Infrared marksmanship training apparatus



- n A CROSS REFERENCE EXAMINER Sept. 5, 1967 G. KUHLO ETAL 3,339,293

INFRARED nnxsumsmr TRAINING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 9, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1

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dela an [e k y 9 1 INVENTORS Joachim Hermann Gunther K uhlo BY WWW/o6 {10w ATTORNEYS Sept. 5, 1967 e. KUHLO ETAL 3,339,293

INFRARED HARKSMANSHIP TRAINING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 9, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 a 1 \IOI INVENTORS Joachim Hermann Gunther K uhlo y W06 W ATTORNEYS Sept. 5, 1967 G. KUHLO ETAL INFRARED MARKSHANSHIP TRAINING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 9, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 mitter Trans INVENTORS Joachim Hermann GUnther Kuhlo W/WWMW ATTORNEYS Sept. 5, 1967 G. KUHLO E AL 3,339,293

INFRARED MARKSHANSHIP TRAINING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 9, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS Joachim Hermann Ginlher Kuhlo y Mw fim/ ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,339,293 INFRARED MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING APPARATUS Giinther Kuhlo, Hohenbrunn, Riemerling, and Joachim Hermann, Munich, Germany, assignors to Bolkow Gesellschaft rnit beschrankter Haftung, Ottobrunn, near Munich, Germany Filed Sept. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 307,559 Claims priority, application Germany, Sept. 18, 1962,

13 Claims. (in. 35-25 This invention relates in general to weapons aiming and guiding training systems, and in particular to a new and useful system for training artillery personnel or missile men (hereinafter collectively referred to as marksmen) for influencing the aiming of gun barrels or similar weapons or for the remote control of flying bodies, respectively. The present invention is particularly concerned with an improved training device for aiding marksmen and improving their aiming of a barrel-type weapon and/or guilding a flying body in a manner to hit a moving target.

It has previously been suggested for this purpose to simulate or imitate the movement of a target to be hit and to represent these movements, for example, as illuminated points on a screen, an artificial sky, an opaque glass or disc or the like. With prior art methods the marksman to be trained must constantly move a sight to thereby produce an illuminated pointer in conformity with the moving target image. The marksmen must actuate a control or guide device in such a manner so that the flying body (or a shell from a gun), which is also simulated and represented as an illuminated point, hits the target image. In order to represent the movement of the target and/or the flying body in as realistic a manner as possible, such known devices require considerable mechanical elements and electrical switching means with accompanying technical expenditures which adversely influence the reliability of the devices and also make them very expensive. In addition, devices of this nature usually require a large amount of space. It is also known that such devices, despite the considerable investment, simulate reality in a very incomplete manner since in addition to other simplifications, the depth dimension is often neglected or is merely in the form of a time limitation of the target finding or control operation.

As is known, for the purpose of aligning an automatic machine gun with a target by means of known sighting devices, it is merely necessary to aim the sight as exactly as possible toward the target to be hit. In this case the marksman will find in the optical sighting devices an exactly defined sighting point for the instant of firing, which sighting point only has to be brought in alignment or registry with the target.

This system is also applicable for marksmen who have to correct or make provisions for, by means of guiding signals, the respective deviation of a remote controlled flying body which has to be guided into a target, from that straight line which connects the eye of the marksman or his sight and the target.

Thus, for the purpose of getting a hit, merely that skill of the marksman in aligning the point at which the weapon is sighted at the instant of firing, or in aligning the remotely controlled flying body, with the target to be hit is decisive.

Bearing in mind this fact, the task which this invention has set for itself, is solved thereby that in accordance with the invention, the following features,- all of which include units which are structurally known per se, are combined in a novel manner: an infrared radiation source which is connected with the target; a device, man- 3,339,293 Patented Sept. 5, 1967 ually actuable by the marksman, for generating adjusting or guiding signals; an infrared position finding or bearing taking device; means to set or adjust this infrared position finding device in conformity with the generated adjusting or guide signals; and a writing recording device which is connected with the infrared position finding device. The arrangement is such that, with the generation of aligning or guide signals which would cause a hit or almost a hit, the target is recorded as within the range of the infrared position finding device and the deviations of the target from the optical axis of the infrared position finding device, which deviations are the aligning or guide errors, are also recorded.

In the event that the marksman has operated his Weapon in a correct manner, then the position finding device which has been adjusted in accordance with the aligning or guide signals, will seek the target and the deviations of the target from the optical axis of the position finding device will be registered as aiming or guide errors or as target hits as the case may be.

The previously described training systems consist of devices and arrangements used in the real weapon system. The marksman to be trained, therefore, has to fulfill the same difficult tasks irrespective of whether it is a training exercise or the real thing.

Due to the fact that the devices and arrangements which are used in the training system are also used during the actual combat (except for the Writing-recording device), this training system is very economical because it doesnt need any devices which are not used in reality. This advantage is particularly clear if one uses, instead of a real target, a model target which, in dependence on the target distance, is a simulation of the dimensions and the speed of the real target in correct scale.

If aiming marksmen are to be trained (for barrel-type weapons), then the device to be actuated by the trainee will be a sight corresponding to the sight used in the respective type of weapon system, which sight is rigidly connected with an infrared position finding device.

However, by contrast, if guiding marksmen are to be trained (for guided flying bodies), then the device to be actuated by the trainee should be a guide signal generator corresponding to the weapon system to be used.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide an improved device for training marksmen.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device, for training military personnel in the aiming of barrelfired projectiles and the like and the guiding of flying bodies, which conforms to actual warfare conditions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a weapons training device which includes a device which is manipulated by the trainee for sighting a weapon or guiding a flying body and which is associated with an infrared radiation source detector which is also moved by the trainee, the arrangement being such that the infrared radiation detector will indicate variations of a sighting device from a target or direct hits on the target.

A further object of the invention is to provide a training device for controlling weapons which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its used, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic top plan view of a 3 system for training aiming marksmen for firing a projectile at a moving target;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a training guide marksmen system indicating a target telescope which is to be aimed at a movable ground target;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 for the training of guide marksmen for guiding of remote control flying bodies to a target; and

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of an optical sight combined with an infrared angular error indicator.

Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein, as indicated in FIG. 1, is shown in association with the aiming of a barrel-type weapon. As is known, the training of a guide marksman is accomplished by bringing a movable target into alignment with a sight which pertains to the weapon or gun barrel. The gun barrel with the sight is continuously moved in conformity with the movement of the target. A system of this nature is diagrammatically indicated in FIGS. 1 and 4. A gun barrel or barrel weapon 2 is arranged on a rotatable mount 1 with the barrel 2 having means (not shown) for changing its elevation. The weapon 2 is to be aimed at a point 1:. The point k is the point which is reached by a target Z at a time when a shell fired from the weapon 2 also reaches the same location.

A sight 3 is provided on the mount 1 and, in accordance with the invention, is directly mounted with or fixedly mechanically connected-for example by a screw and clamping connection 50with an infrared position-finding device 4 of known construction.

The output potential of the infrared position finding device 4 is connected through electrical cables 10 to a writing-recording device 11. The sight 3 must be constantly aimed by the marksman 6 toward the target Z. This is accomplished by setting means 51 and 52 (FIG. 4) which are manually operated by the operator 6 to shift the position of the gun mount 1 and the elevation of the weapon 2 along with the sight 3. Through the manipulation of the setting means, the elevation angle and azimuth angle of the tubular weapon 2 are set or adjusted to follow the target Z. The setting means advantageously includes a suitable transmission or gearing which makes allowance for a delay or lead to take into account the range, the forward velocity of the target, the velocity of the projectile which is to intercept the target, etc. Such a device which is to be manually actuated by a trainee in order to create aiming signals is disclosed in US. Patent 3,039,194.

The target Z has an infrared radiation source 12, for example as described in US. Patent No. 2,933,317 or in the form of its inherent or own IR-radiation.

A second operator, control man, or instructor 7 may sit on the gun mount 1 adjacent the weapon 2 and press an actuator button 8 which is connected to the recording device 11 by cables 9. This second operator or instructor 7 also actuates a delay calculator which, in turn, influences the transmission means between the sight and the weapon proper, that is, the instructor 7 may set the transmission means and the setting device operated by the trainee 6 to provide for changes in velocity of the target, the type of weapon being employed, the range, etc. When the actuating button 8 is actuated, the recording device records a time mark for evaluating the performance of the trainee 6 at the commencement of a time interval which is indicated on the recording device by a time mark.

An infrared position finding device usable with the in vention is described in Infrared Angular Error Indicator for Anti-Tank Missile Guidance by A. L. Pogoda and E. M. Wormser of Barnes Engineering Company, Stamford, Conn. A graphic recorder usable with the invention is the type X-Y Recorder F 80 sold by Varian Associates, Recorder Division, Palo Alto, Calif, and described in the Bulletin The New All-Transistor Model 80.

If the marksman 6 is successful in holding the target in alignment with the sight 3, then the infrared position finding device 4-which is moved together with the sightwill receive the rays of the infrared radiation source 12 of the target and the recording device 11 will be actuated. The recording device will thus record any deviations of the target from the optical axis A of the infrared position finding device, either laterally or upwardly and downwardly, to indicate aiming errors. For example, in FIG. 1 the angle 6 is recorded in the recording device 11 on a paper strip 14 as well as the angle at; which represents the sight azimuth. In addition, the time marks caused by the instructor 7 are also recorded.

The target Z may be a real target, that is, for example, an airplane which is flown by a pilot, or it may be a model airplane target. In the latter case a remote control fiying model having a wing span or a length of about 1 meter to 1.5 meters is used. The airplane may move at a speed of about 30 meters per second. In order to find the position of the aircraft, the model should be provided with an infrared point radiator 12. The model, during the training of the marksman, is controlled in a manner so that it moves at a distance of about meters in front of the sight which is to be operated by the marksman.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, there is indicated a training device for training a guide marksman for semiautomatic anti-tank missiles. In this embodiment, a sight 3 which is preferably constructed as a target telescope, is connected with an infrared position finding device 4. The device 4' is similar to the device 4 of FIG. 1 and is connected via cables 10 to a recording device 11.

The aiming marksman 24 moves the sight 3' with its optical axis a in conformity to the movements of a target vehicle F. The target vehicle F is provided with an infrared radiation source 12'. When the sight 3 is moved in conformity with the movement of the vehicle F, the vehicle is picked up by the position finding device 4' and alignment errors 5 which may be separated with regard to size or height are recorded by the recording device 11 on a paper strip 14'. The training supervisor 25 may limit the training procedure from a time point of view by actuating a button 26 to indicate time marks on the paper strip 14'. In this embodiment, instead of a fiying body to be guided, a target vehicle F is provided which is fitted with an infrared radiation source 12'.

In the third embodiment, indicated in FIG. 3, there is shown a training device for the training of guide marksmen for remote controlled ground to air flying bodies. The weapons systems includes on a rotatable mount 1' and an infrared position finding device 4 which is connected with a sighting device 3". For setting the infrared position finding device to the target Z, a joy-stick operated guide signal generator 31 is employed and acts through a connection 41 upon the mount 1. The output potentials of the infrared position finding device are transmitted through a line 32 and a changeover switch 33 either to a signal computer 34 or via an additional line 35 to a recording device 11".

The signal computer 34 calculates the required guiding signals which, via a transmitter 36 and an antenna 37, are transmitted to a flying body 38 which is to be guided toward a target Z. The target Z has an infrared radiation source 12".

During the training exercise, the infrared position finding device 4" is connected with the recording device 11" through the reversing switch 33. If the correct signal generation takes place then, by means of the guide signal generator 31, the infrared positioning device 4" is moved to constantly follow the target, so that its infrared radiation source 12" is within the range of the infrared position finding device 4" and the deviation 6 from the optical axis a of the position finding device can be recorded as a function of time by the recording device 11". The sight directions laterally and vertically are constantly measured via the potentiometer 39 (in FIG. 3 only the height direction a is represented) and are fed, via a line 40, to the recording device 11".

In this embodiment, the target Z is preferably a flying body model in the same manner as described in connection with FIG. 1.

During actual use, the reversing switch 33 connects the infrared position finding device with the signal computer 34. In this event the fiying body 38 is located by the infrared position finding device 4. That means, that the angle .5 is determined and is processed by the signal computer and is converted into guide signals which are transmitted via the transmitter 36 to the flying body 38.

As will be apparent from the above, in each weapon system those devices and arrangements which are used in reality are also used for training of the aiming or guide marksman. This is made possible by infrared position finding devices which are actuated by an infrared radiation source of the respective target in the event that the aiming or guide signal generation would cause a hit or almost a hit. The aiming or guiding marksman, therefore, independent of whether he is undergoing training or actual combat conditions, has to solve the same task with the same degree of difficulty.

In the embodiments of the invention referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the adjustment of the infrared position finding device corresponding to the aiming or guide signals happens in the body as indicated in FIG. 4, that is, infrared position finding device and optical sight are rigidly connected together, for example by a screw and clamping connection 50.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A system for training marksmen with the use of a movable target, said system comprising, in combination, an infrared target source, an optical sighting means; an infrared position detector; means operable to calculate the angular displacement of said infrared target source from the optical axis of said infrared position detector; means mounting said optical sighting means and said infrared position detector so that the indicated angular displacement of said infrared target source from the optical axis of said infrared position detector corresponds to the angular displacement of the target from the optical axis of said sighting means; and means operable to record the angular displacement of the target from the optical axis of said sighting means.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said infrared position detector and said sighting means are commonly mounted.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said target is a remotely controllable model target having an infrared radiation source, said target being of a construction to simulate on a correct scale the dimensions and speed of the real target.

4. A system according to claim 1, including means for generating remote control signals; and switch means G selectively operable to connect either said last named means or said recording means to said infrared position detector.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the recording means records said angular displaccment as a function of time.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the recording means records said angular displacement in response to a firing signal by a trainee.

7. A system for training marksmcn, comprising, in combination, an optical sighting means; an infrared target source; means operable to shift the position of said sighting means in accordance with the change of position of the target source; an infrared position detector; means operable to calculate the angular displacement of said infrared target source from the optical axis of said infrared position detector; means mounting said optical sighting means and said infrared position detector so that the indicated angular displacement of said infrared target source from the optical axis of said infrared position detector corresponds to the angular displacement of the target from the optical axis of said sighting means; and recording means connected to said infrared position detector to record the angular displacement of the target from the optical axis of said sighting means.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein said sighting means is mounted on a movable weapon mounting platform, a weapon mounted on said platform, said sighting means including means connected between said mounting platform and said weapon for changing the position of said weapon in accordance with the changing of the position of the sight to align it with a target.

9. A system according to claim 7, wherein said target is a movable vehicle.

10. A system according to claim 7, including means connected to said sighting means and responsive to movement thereof for transmitting control signals.

11. A device according to claim 7, including means connected to said sighting means and operable to record movement of said sighting means during tracking of said target.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the recording means records said angular displacement as a function of time.

13. The system of claim 7 wherein the recording means records said angular displacement in response to a firing signal by a trainee.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,086,202 4/1963 Hopper et al. 273--105.3 X 3,104,478 9/1963 Strauss et al. 3,130,267 4/1964 Engler 250-203 X ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Examiner.

M. R. PAGE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SYSTEM FOR TRAINING MARKSMEN WITH THE USE OF A MOVABLE TARGET, SAID SYSTEM COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, AN INFRARED TARGET SOURCE, AN OPTICAL SIGHTING MEANS; AN INFRARED POSITION DETECTOR; MEANS OPERABLE TO CALCULATE ANGULAR DISPLACEMENT OF SAID INFRARED TARGET SOURCE FROM THE OPTICAL AXIS OF SAID INFRARED POSITION DETECTOR; MEANS MOUNTING SAID OPTICAL SIGHTING MEANS AND SAID INFRARED POSITION DETECTOR SO THAT THE INDICATED ANGULAR DISPLACEMENT OF SAID INFRARED TARGET SOURCE FROM THE OPTICAL AXIS OF SAID INFRARED POSITION DETECTOR CORRESPONDS TO THE ANGULAR DISPLACEMENT OF THE TARGET FROM THE OPTICAL AXIS OF SAID SIGHTING MEANS; AND MEANS OPERABLE TO RECORD THE ANGULAR DISPLACEMENT OF THE TARGET FROM THE OPTICAL AXIS OF SAID SIGHTING MEANS. 